Lest we forget ... on this December 7th

1northcoin

1northcoin

And here is a link to the current thread regarding numismatics in Hawaii with posts relevant to World War II.

https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1067504/us-mint-and-its-hawaii-related-issues#latest

JBK

Namvet69

Yup, A moment of silence for those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Thanks for your service. Peace Roy

Onastone

80 years ago...such history us humans weave...moment of silence definitely called for.

ricko

Cheers, RickO

Jzyskowski1

BillJones

Peal Harbor Day

And Delaware Day. Delaware was the first state to ratify the constitution on December 7, 1787.

JimTyler

I was just looking at a bunch of old AP photos from that day. All the destruction and yet so many young men and women lining up to take the fight. Blackouts, rationing, long hours building a war machine, war bonds, more. Thank God that didn’t happen today, cry babies can’t wear a mask fight on planes, more. We’d be speaking German.

pmh1nic

We stand on the shoulders of a tremendous generation of men and women. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to them. Freedom isn’t free.

johnny9434

I remember that day every year

steelielee

Nice US flag flown on the Arizona memorial. Picked up on a visit there in 2007. A moving experience to say the least.

moursund

Were any members here alive on that day?

cmerlo1

From my ephemera collection. 1935 onboard ship's crew newsletter from the USS Arizona. These were produced from the 1920's through to December, 1941. Note the Iron Man competition between the Arizona and other ships, including a number of them that were hit or sunk in Pearl Harbor:

Eldorado9

"A date which will live in Infamy"

Zoins

A very sad and tragic day indeed!

I've recognized this event on December 7 for many years, but today got me to read about the event a bit, and the History Channel indicates that war was the inevitable result of a decade of activity. Interesting that economic sanctions, among other things, led to war.

https://www.history.com/news/why-did-japan-attack-pearl-harbor

The U.S. Was Trying to Stop Japan’s Global Expansion
In light of such atrocities, the United States began passing economic sanctions against Japan, including trade embargoes on aircraft exports, oil and scrap metal, among other key goods, and gave economic support to Guomindang forces.

crito_is_baaack

Yes, let us also remember USMC Major General Smedley Butler who died before Pearl Harbor but somehow predicted it in his book "War is a Racket":

Then they begin to cry for a larger navy. For what? To fight the enemy? Oh my, no. Oh, no. For defense purposes only.

Then, incidentally, they announce maneuvers in the Pacific. For defense. Uh, huh.

The Pacific is a great big ocean. We have a tremendous coastline on the Pacific. Will the maneuvers be off the coast, two or three hundred miles? Oh, no. The maneuvers will be two thousand, yes, perhaps even thirty-five hundred miles, off the coast.

The Japanese, a proud people, of course will be pleased beyond expression to see the united States fleet so close to Nippon's shores. Even as pleased as would be the residents of California were they to dimly discern through the morning mist, the Japanese fleet playing at war games off Los Angeles.

JBK

@steelielee said:
Nice US flag flown on the Arizona memorial. Picked up on a visit there in 2007. A moving experience to say the least.

This makes me feel old. I have a similar flag that was flown over the USS Arizona Memorial on the 50th anniversary, in 1991.

Some trivia: the US flag that flies over the USS Arizona Memorial is on a flag pole that is attached to the ship itself, not the memorial structure.

JBK

I created these for a trip to Hawaii a few years ago, using a WWII era USN punch. (My initials are on the back to identify them as modern pieces). I spent a bunch of them while there.

fcloud

A memorial coin I picked up while visiting Pearl Harbor Memorial in 2004.
Remember all whom served and those who continue to serve.

ms71

Reminiscent of the British " pusser's arrow" (look it up-an interesting story).

ElKevvo

My uncle, Richard Ahern, KIA 12/07/1941 aboard the Arizona and is there with his shipmates. A sad day for my Grandparents and the wait until official word was excruciating although they suspected that he had been killed since no word from him after the Arizona sank.

joeykoins

Yes,

"A day we will never forget!"

On a personal note.
This day, December 7th, will always be remembered in me and my wife's life as well.
You see, that was the date December 7 1984, when I first told my wife, "I Loved her." We were still dating. 4 yrs. before we got married. We joke to this day about this, I always tell her, (Not to lighten the actual event) that's the day I dropped a bomb on you!

coinbuf

An important day in US history and that of the world. I hope that the upcoming generations do not lose sight of the importance of this date as they continue to remove and rewrite history.

DNADave

80 years ago today, the U.S.S. West Virginia sank to the bottom of Pearl Harbor. Within a matter of months, the ship was raised to the surface, drained, and refitted.

In September 1945, it proudly steamed into Tokyo Bay, flying the same battle-torn American flag it was flying on December 7, 1941. She was the only ship attacked at Pearl Harbor present for Japan’s surrender.

Truly WV Strong. 🇺🇸

BryceM

God bless and forever keep those men and women who died there and throughout WWII. Our world would be an incomprehensible place if that conflict went the other direction.

Dave99B

I visited the USS Arizona about five years ago. Stunning memorial. Watching oil still bubbling up to the surface of the Pacific Ocean, 75+ years later was incredible. It was almost a religious experience. Hallowed ground in my book.

God bless those men and women who were lost. All are Heroes. May they RIP.

Dave

calgolddiver

a story from a friend of mine that needs to be shared:

The Mighty Nevada and Pearl Harbor Survivors.
It was December 7, 2000. Being the history buffs that we are, John Tartaglione and I went out to lunch at the old "56th Fighter Group" restaurant at Republic Airport. There, to our astonishment were about 20 elderly men all in matching jackets and wearing white garrison caps embroiled with "Pearl Harbor Survivor". After much debate, we finally went up to say hello to them and thank them for their service. In the conversation, I fumbled the question I know we both wanted to ask; "What was it like that morning?" Well, hell if they didn't invite us to sit down with them and join their luncheon. It was an unforgettable afternoon of stories of lost friends and seared memories. One gentleman's story was truly astonishing. He was assigned to the USS Argonne and his duty station for that Sunday morning was high up in its "crow's nest", so as the attacks commenced he had an unfortunate front seat to the Japanese assault on "Battleship Row" directly across from him. He vividly recalled two dive bombers (a total of 352 Japanese planes participated in the attack) screaming down to destroy the Navy seaplane station. The first dropped his bombs and pulled out, but the other, whether by malfunction or pilot error, didn't and crashed, bombs and all directly into the hangar. With tears in his eyes, he described the catastrophic explosion of the USS Arizona (which instantly killed 1,177 sailors and marines) and the capsizing of the destroyed USS Oklahoma (which took another 429 souls with it). But nothing compared to his eyes widening with pride when he told the story of the burning battleship Nevada (moored aft of the Arizona), getting under steam and appearing seemingly out of nowhere from and through the fiery black cloud of what was only minutes before the mighty Arizona "with all guns blazing", and raced out to sea. It was under this valiant charge that Nevada, engulfed in flames, became the primary target of the Japanese. Nevada was struck by no less than six bombs and one torpedo, but its crew managed to shoot down at least four of their attackers. The defiance of the Nevada, against all odds, was incredibly uplifting to the besieged sailors and marines that morning. Afire and taking on water, the Officer of the Deck, 21-year old, Ensign Joe Taussig (himself severely wounded and who had ordered Nevada's boilers lit and underway), ordered to beach the crippled 583-foot dreadnought at Hospital Point, thus saving it. Ensign Taussig, would lose his leg, but survive Pearl harbor. So would the Nevada, who would be repaired and take part in many WWII engagements, including Attu, Alaska, Normandy, Southern France, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa making her the war's most active battleship by logging more nautical miles and engaging the enemy more than any other US ship. Deservedly, she was on hand in Tokyo Harbor during the signing of Japan's surrender. After the war, and now over 30 years old, Nevada was deemed too antiquated for the "nuclear age" and was used as a target ship during the atomic bomb testing at Bikini atoll. There she was hit with not one, but TWO A-Bombs. But once again after surviving bombs, torpedoes, shore batteries, and kamikaze attacks, the defiant BB-36 refused to go under. The unsinkable USS Nevada was then towed back to Pearl Harbor where it was eventually decommissioned and scuttled. And as for our new "friends" I kept in touch with several of them, one gave me a few books that I cherish to this day. Sadly, they're all gone now, but like the Nevada and Pearl Harbor, they will always be giants never to be forgotten. Salute.

hummingbird_coins

Found in a coin roll (this was the best lighting I could get with a webcam)

1northcoin

Thanks all for the added contributions.

jwitten

Amazing stories here. I had the chance to visit Pearl Harbor and the Arizona with my wife on our honeymoon in 2007. Unforgettable experience. This is my November 1941 M1 Garand. It was brand new when the war started. The stories it could tell..

yosclimber

Watched Tora! Tora! Tora! tonight with my dad, who was age 15 that day.
He enlisted in the Navy in 1944.

Zoins

@DNADave said:
80 years ago today, the U.S.S. West Virginia sank to the bottom of Pearl Harbor. Within a matter of months, the ship was raised to the surface, drained, and refitted.

In September 1945, it proudly steamed into Tokyo Bay, flying the same battle-torn American flag it was flying on December 7, 1941. She was the only ship attacked at Pearl Harbor present for Japan’s surrender.

Truly WV Strong. 🇺🇸

Great info! Very impressive recovery and result!

Here are some photos from PearlHarbor.org.

Bruce D. wrote on PearlHarbor.org:
Photograph taken from a Japanese plane during the torpedo attack on ships moored on both sides of Ford Island shortly after the beginning of the Pearl Harbor attack. View looks about east, with the supply depot, submarine base and fuel tank farm in the right center distance. A torpedo has just hit USS West Virginia on the far side of Ford Island (center).

Bruce D. wrote on PearlHarbor.org:
A small boat rescues a seaman from the 31,800 ton USS West Virginia burning in the foreground. Smoke rolling out amidships shows where the most extensive damage occurred. Note the two men in the superstructure. The USS Tennessee is inboard

Bruce D. wrote on PearlHarbor.org:
USS West Virginia (BB-48) with her main batteries trained to starboard, in her final configuration after being rebuilt at Puget Sound Navy Yard, June 1944.

Zoins

Thanks for posting this thread @1northcoin and everyone who participated. I have relatives in the military on Oahu, but I don't get to visit them often. This post reminds me I should spend more time with them the next time I'm out there. The last time I was there I got to see some photos of one of my relatives in his dress whites.

1northcoin

@Dave99B said:
I visited the USS Arizona about five years ago. Stunning memorial. Watching oil still bubbling up to the surface of the Pacific Ocean, 75+ years later was incredible. It was almost a religious experience. Hallowed ground in my book.

God bless those men and women who were lost. All are Heroes. May they RIP.

Dave

The drops of oil as they rose to the surface 78 years after the sinking on December 3rd, 2019:

And the one vestige of the USS Arizona that pierces the surface adjacent to the Memorial:

Bullsitter

WAYNEAS

Glad I served.
USN 1970-1976
Wayne

1northcoin

@1northcoin said:

@Dave99B said:
I visited the USS Arizona about five years ago. Stunning memorial. Watching oil still bubbling up to the surface of the Pacific Ocean, 75+ years later was incredible. It was almost a religious experience. Hallowed ground in my book.

God bless those men and women who were lost. All are Heroes. May they RIP.

Dave

The drops of oil as they rose to the surface 78 years after the sinking on December 3rd, 2019:

And the one vestige of the USS Arizona that pierces the surface adjacent to the Memorial:

OK, that is better phrased, "The drops of oil as they rose to the surface as I photographed them on December 3rd, 2019 - 78 years after the sinking.

morgansforever

I knew the day before the significance of tomorrow. God bless those lost on this fateful day 80 years ago. Whenever I see a WWII vet or any vet, I go out of my way to thank them for their service.

1northcoin

@Eldorado9 said:
"A date which will live in Infamy"

Of course the day on which FDR made that declaration was December 8, 1941.

oldabeintx

My dad served in the Pacific on the USS Bagley, a Bagley-class destroyer, as chief engineering officer. The Bagley was involved in numerous engagements providing protection for the carriers. When asked about this service he would say "well, truth is I didn't know my a..h... from a porthole". Typical of the Greatest Generation.